Liverpool are increasingly optimistic that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are close to signing new deals, talkSPORT understands.
As talkSPORT revealed last month, the Reds have been confident Salah would commit his future to Liverpool after talks with the Saudi Pro League were put on the backburner.
Sources at Anfield insist nothing has been signed as of yet but significant progress has been made.
talkSPORT also understands that Salah is not expected to take a pay cut on his wages in excess of £300,000, plus bonuses.
Interest had been building from Saudi Arabia and around Europe in Salah’s services.
But the 32-year-old is not in active talks over a move to the Saudi Pro League, despite being a key target.
Liverpool captain Van Dijk, who joined the club in January 2018, is also set to extend his stay at the club.
The Netherlands international teased over the weekend that talks are going well, telling journalists: “There is progress, yeah.”
When asked if he would be at Liverpool next season, he added: “I don’t know, we’ll see. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.
“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again and we wanted to reward them.
“But I want them to be there Sunday again (at home to West Ham United) and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”
But one player who won’t be extending his stay at Anfield is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is bound for Real Madrid upon the expiration of his contract this summer.
A whopping £150million offer from Al Ittihad in 2023 was swiftly rejected by the Reds Salah, with fans fearing interest could be renewed ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
The ex-Chelsea forward has done little to shut down speculation – insisting he is ‘more out than in’ when discussing his future in November.
However, the Reds are now feeling upbeat about the prospect of Salah staying on Merseyside.
Salah is enjoying a stunning season so far – where he leads the Premier League‘s charts for goals and assists.
With 27 goals and 17 assists already, he is on course for his best ever campaign in the English top-flight.
He is just three assists shy of equalling Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne‘s record of 20 in a single season.
And he needs just five more strikes to tie his record tally of 32 he set during his first year at the club following his move from Roma in 2017.
Saudi Pro League bosses were willing to hand the Egyptian star a three-year deal worth in excess of £160million-per-year.
That deal would make Salah one of the richest footballers in the Gulf nation alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who pockets in the region of £177m-a-year.
Saudi chiefs have been able to speak to Salah regarding a free transfer since January, but the winger has prioritised contract talks with Liverpool.
Now it seems that his Liverpool legacy will continue to be built.
Since joining the Reds from Roma for £36.5million, Salah has proven himself as a true Liverpool legend.
In 394 games for the club he has scored 243 goals and provided 111 assists.
He has also won just about every trophy on offer during that time including the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
With another Premier League title likely to be heading his way this term, it seems that Salah is showing no signs of slowing down.
